moustache

Forms

moustache f (plural moustaches)^[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Neapolitan mustaccio, which corresponds to Italian mostaccio, recorded for “snout” in 1329, “face” in the 14th century and the moustache before 1450.^[2][3][4] It was probably borrowed during Charles VIII's campaign in southern Italy.^[5][3] The Italian word comes from Byzantine Greek μουστάκιον (moustákion), a diminutive of Ancient Greek μύσταξ (mústax, “upper lip, moustache”).^[2][3][1] Rey describes the Greek word as built on an expressive syllable ⟨mu⟩.^[3] A Late Latin intermediary mustaceum, proposed by Kahane, is doubtful, because that word is found only in Anglo-Norman glosses and has no other Romance descendants.^[2][3] The feminine gender follows barbe.^[5]

Compare Spanish mostacho.^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first recorded in 1511 in the phrase barbette moustache, in Lemaire de Belges's Epistre du roy à Hector de Troye, for the part of the beard growing above the upper lip.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

The word stands alone in the singular from 1549 (Estienne) and in the plural from 1585.^[2][3] The playful phrase sous sa moustache (1626) meant the same as à sa barbe, “under his nose”, and is now archaic.^[2][3] In Middle and classical French the beard included the moustache; the two are contrasted only in modern usage.^[3]

By likeness it named the whiskers of many mammals, especially the cat (1575, then masculine), and the barbels of some fishes (1845).^[2][3] By metonymy it was used for an old soldier (1745), and later for the down on a woman's upper lip (1832, Hugo) and the coloured trace left above the lips by a drink (1910, Colette).^[2][3] Technical uses include a wire drawer's crank (1690), a gilder's pincers (1840) and, in the plural, part of a ship's rigging (1773).^[2][3] The derivative moustachu dates from 1842.^[3]

Timeline

• 1511 – Barbette moustache appears in Lemaire de Belges.^[2]
• 1549 – Estienne records moustache.^[2][7]
• 1575 – It is used of a cat's whiskers.^[2][3]
• 1626 – D'Aubigné uses sous sa moustache.^[2]
• 1745 – It names an old soldier.^[2][3]
• 1832 – Hugo uses it of the down on a woman's lip.^[2][3]
• 1842 – The adjective moustachu is recorded.^[3]
• 1910 – Colette uses it of a trace left around the lips.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. A moustache, the hair growing on the upper lip: Mon grand-père porte la moustache.^[8][6]
2. Dark down on a woman's upper lip.^[8][2]
3. A trace left around the lips by a drink: L'enfant avait une moustache de chocolat.^[8][2]
4. In the plural, the whiskers of cats, rodents and other animals.^[8][2]
5. (dated) An old soldier.^[2][3]

Word family

• moustachu

Related words

• Italian mostaccio
• Ancient Greek μύσταξ (mústax)
• English moustache

Usage notes

The singular and the plural are both used of one man's moustache;^[6][8] Littré thought the plural an abuse.^[6][8]

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
4. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 6/3, 318a
5. ^ a b Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
6. ^ a b c d Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
7. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
8. ^ a b c d e f Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert